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Josh Powell's children were beginning to remember and talk about their mother's disappearance, according to reports.

Susan Powell disappeared in 2009, and husband Josh was the main suspect, though he maintained his innocence and told authorities he was camping with the couple's two sons. Authorities believe that an explosion at Josh's home yesterday, which killed him and the two boys, was deliberately set.

"We believe that he killed his kids and himself," said police spokesman Sgt. Ed Troyer. Jeffrey Basett, Powell's lawyer, told reporters he had received an email from his client with three words: "I'm sorry, goodbye."

Now a lawyer for Susan Powell's parents told the Associated Press that the young boys were starting to remember details about the night of her disappearance. "They were beginning to verbalize more," said attorney Steve Downing. "The oldest boy talked about that they went camping and that mommy was in the trunk. Mom and dad got out of the car and mom disappeared," he added.

According to a first-hand account of yesterday's explosion, Powell allowed his sons inside the house but prevented a Child Protective Services agent from entering. When she smelled gas, she immediately called authorities, but the house exploded before anyone could provide help.

"He grabbed the kids, locked her out of the house, and immediately the house went up in flames, very quickly, very big, so we believe that Josh Powell intentionally set this fire," explained Sgt. Troyer.

Powell had not had custody of his children since early 2011, when his father was arrested on charges of voyeurism and child pornography. A judge had denied Powell custody on Wednesday, saying that he needed to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and polygraph test.

Susan Powell's parents issued the following statement through Downing. "It's the most horrifying thing you can imagine. The Coxes are absolutely devastated. They were always very fearful of him doing something like this, and he did it."